Joe Harper urges Everton target Calvin Ramsay to stay at Aberdeen
Former Everton striker Joe Harper has told reported Toffees target Calvin Ramsay to continue his development at Aberdeen.
A few days ago, Evening Express reported that Rafa Benitez had sent a scout to watch the 18-year-old right-back in Aberdeen's 2-0 loss against Motherwell last week.
Harper, who has made over 200 appearances for Aberdeen during his playing days, along with around 50 for the Toffees, has urged him to ignore all the transfer interest shown in him.
He told Evening Express, "Aberdeen’s teen star Calvin Ramsay needs to stay at Pittodrie for another couple of seasons to serve his apprenticeship.
"It is no surprise English Premier League clubs are being linked to the 18-year-old. It is important Ramsay does not become distracted by the speculation linking him to English top flight clubs.
"Obviously it will be exciting for a young talent who only broke into the first team in March this year."
Sign and loan back
While it is true that the Toffees need a right-back who can challenge Seamus Coleman and eventually take over from him, strengthening the youth team is going to be just as important.
If Benitez is understood to be an admirer of the player and thinks he can one day break into the first team, then the club must consider signing him.
He's also sent a scout to watch him which suggests that the interest is genuine and it remains to be seen whether the Toffees table a bid.
Should he sceptical about leaving Aberdeen immediately, he could be loaned back for a year or two.
This would see the Toffees get a huge discount on the transfer fee and it could work out to be a masterstroke in the future.
Hopefully, Everton's interest in the 18-year-old is followed up by a concrete offer in the coming weeks.
In other Everton news, Benitez must axe 'Brilliant' Everton ace to unleash 'Priceless' 83-cap int'l v Villa